Odds Are Not Too Long On Lucky Lottery For Magic

THE SPORTS COLUMN

May 19, 2000|By Brian Schmitz, Sentinel Columnist

The NBA playoff hoopla could be dominated Sunday by ... the Magic. That's right. Sure, the dastardly Heat still will be alive. The Magic's time, for now, is halftime on NBC. The league will conduct its pingpong ball lottery, setting the three front-row positions for the June 28 draft.

And that's big stuff here, especially if the Magic get lucky. Orlando will own three of the top 13 picks among teams who are being rewarded for not making the playoffs.

I know you have questions about Lottery Day, so I've already made up the answers. Questions?

Yes, about this lottery. Usually, I go to 7-Eleven, get a Slurpee, grab a card and fill out the numbers using a combination of my third husband's Social Security number, his birth date and his golf handicap, but I never win a thing.

And your question?

Should I divorce him?

Wrong lottery, I'm afraid. Next question.

Why could Orlando get top pick?

Because Golden State continues to be the F-Troop of the NBA.

What do you mean?

The Warriors thought Chris Webber was so much better than Penny Hardaway that they gave the Magic this No. 1, plus two more, in addition to Hardaway to make a draft-day trade. Magic GM John Gabriel should have held out for some ocean-side property, too. Golden State figured it would be in the playoffs, rendering the pick useless. But Webber left, and the reliably bad Warriors finished 19-63 this season. Their record -- third-worst behind the Clippers and Bulls -- gives the Magic a shot at Nos. 1, 2 or 3 and no worse than the sixth pick, even though Orlando finished this season 41-41.

Is this a good draft?

Not a year to have three picks. All you need to know is that the best player [Kenyon Martin] still is recovering from a broken leg. It won't be good for the Magic if they don't nab at least No. 3. Gabriel would rather have had three choices in '96 [Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen and Antoine Walker] or '84 [Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley].

How long do we have to stomach Peter Vecsey on Sunday before we know where the Magic will draft?

Soon as the lottery starts -- or after Vecsey's first erroneous report -- we'll know. With their third pick [their own], the Magic have the fewest chances of the 13 non-playoff teams. But if by some miracle the 13th pick does not come up "Orlando Magic," Orlando is guaranteed the first, second or third picks. The lottery determines the first three spots, and the next 10 fall in line according to terrible records.

WhowouldMagictakein1st3?

They would take Kobe Bryant with a No.1 or Steve Francis at No.2. We're dreaming, but that's who would be available this year if kids stayed in school. Ignore the lies by GMs. At No. 1, the Magic would select Martin, a 6-foot-8 forward from Cincy. They would take Stromile Swift, Marcus Fizer or center Chris Mihm at 2 or 3.

And if Orlando has to settle for the sixth pick?

Gabriel finally might take a high school kid -- St. Louis' Darius Miles, a Kevin Garnett-type player. Gabriel hates to cradle-rob, but you can't pass on the next Garnett or Bryant. At No. 6, the Magic also could select Gator Mike Miller -- or trade the pick.

If the Magic pick a center, does that mean Santa Claus, er, Duncan, is not coming to town?

Signing Tim Duncan is a long shot, period. Taking a big man such as Mihm means you have a tradable asset, even if Duncan graces Orlando. If the Bulls land No.1 and the Magic Nos. 2 or 3, look for a trade. With Elton Brand, Chicago doesn't need Martin, but covets Mihm.

Nothing to do until Sunday then but cross your fingers, huh?

If you want to have some fun, go to NBAtalk.com, and click on the underlined NBAtalk Y2K draft page. Click onto "Lottery Generator," a program that simulates the lottery and uses odds assigned each team. Keep reloading the generator for different results.

I played it 10 times, and the Magic landed the first, second or third picks seven times, including four No. 1s. Now doesn't that sound like fun for the entire family? Probably sounds good to the Gabriel family.